Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

You guys must be in some more nothern part of US or your builder used better paints.
According to my wife or hardiplank house required painting after 4 years in Georgia sun.
Several houses in the neibourhood were repainted, either at 4 years mark or 7 years mark.
Anybody had their hardiplank shrink? Ours developed about 1/4 inches gaps between the boards, which needed to be caulked.

We put it on my wifes old house as part of the remodel. Best stuff around.

Sailor: the hardiplank does shrink and expand with its moisture content. Ideally you install it when its warm and dry and keep the gaps small, then if and when it expands a little, it'll just butt together. You'll still want to caulk the seams periodically. I've seen some people install little metal flashing straps over the seams as they install the product.

__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.

You guys must be in some more nothern part of US or your builder used better paints.
According to my wife or hardiplank house required painting after 4 years in Georgia sun.
Several houses in the neibourhood were repainted, either at 4 years mark or 7 years mark.
Anybody had their hardiplank shrink? Ours developed about 1/4 inches gaps between the boards, which needed to be caulked.

I'm in south TX and the Hardiplank is on the southern side of the house...major sun exposure. Maybe it is paint quality. It was installed in August of 97 and there is some shrinkage but only 1/8 inch gap or so in some seams.

We have specified Hardie products on many of our projects. We use the plank for a pseudo-wood siding look, and have used the larger textured panels instead of acrylic stucco or to simulate board and batten.

Have not had any complaints or problems. Yet.

Hardie has come out with a prefinished board that supposedly does not require painting for 25 years (I think). Haven't tried that as the colors were less than inspiring.

The prepaint isnt that great. By the time you get it its nicked, scratched and otherwise requires a coat of paint anyhow.

Preprimed is how we get them, but we apply another coat of primer to both sides before installation anyway.

Paint adherence here, which is wet and cool in the winter and dry and hotter than hell in the summer, is about 7-10 years for stucco and hardi and about 4-6 years for wood, when using a good quality paint and a superior primer.

__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.

__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.

__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.

We cut it with power shears, although you can do it with a circular saw with a hardiplank blade (yes, they make one) with a dust collector on the saw.

I was just on a job site this morning and saw those power shears in action - they cut through it like butter - well, maybe hard butter - but still.* They cut very well.* The actually remove a 3/8" or so strip, so you loose a bit of length.*

I asked the guy cutting and he said he's used his for six years without changing blades.* Definitely the way to go.

We have had Hardiplank smooth lap siding on our house for over 10 years. Newer houses on either side of us with similar cedar siding are on their 2nd paint job. Ours still looks new, only the facias (not Hardi) need paint. We are in Sheryl's part of the country.

Latest Threads

Social Knowledge Community

About Us

This community was started in 2002 as an alternative to a then fee only Motley Fool. The focus of the discussions is on topics related to early retirement and financial independence. The community is moderated to ensure a pleasant experience for our members.